The seeds of the Black Ash provide essential food for wild turkeys, grouse and other small mammals. Black Ash has a reddish color to the wood. Image Title: Blue ash tree. Black Ash has a rich history in the Great North Woods. It favors the wet soils of cold swamps, peat … Blue ash has a Janka rating of 2,030. Season wood by stacking it in place where air will circulate around and through the stack. hd@dickert.ca. The main types of ash wood you will come across in building, construction and for general human use is wood from the white ash (Fraxinus americana) and the black ash (Fraxinus nigra).There are other species of ash tree as well, including European Ash (Fraxinus excelsior), Oregon Ash (Fraxinus latifolia) and Green Ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica). Green Ash and Black Ash trees are preferentially attacked by the insects, followed by White Ash and Blue Ash. Ash can be easier to start compared with Black Locust and Hickory, which makes it a better fuel wood to use when you first start the fire. Ash Tree Disease: Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) The emerald ash borer is a metallic green wood boring beetle which is about 1 to 1.5 cm in length. ), with their high, conical or oval canopies and relatively nonaggressive root systems are a good choice streetside or in large yards. Ash is a hardwood which means it will burn hotter and will provide the most heat for the weight. Workability: Produces good results with hand or machine tools. One lesser-known tree that makes great firewood is black locust. With its black granite top and ultramodern fixtures, it was truly stunning. The central stalk of the Black Ash contains 7-11 leaflets that each measure 15-30cm long. The wood of Black Ash is relatively soft and flexible. The wood from the hickory family of trees, which includes pecan trees, is also very dense and prized for use as firewood, being of similar quality to oak. Black ash is unique among all trees in North America in that it does not have fibers connecting the growth rings to each other . Black Ash. The long strips are trimmed, cleaned, and used in basket weaving. It's this band that cleanly cleaves from the latewood, providing the thin, tough, and durable strips that craftsmen turn into baskets, woven chair seats, and once upon a time, the hoops that held together the staves of wooden barrels. In the northeastern United States, it grows south to Virginia and as far west as Illinois. Black Ash is threatened with extinction by Emerald Ash Borer (from Asia), along with all other native Ash species. Black Ash (Fraxinus nigra) General Description A medium to large tree which grows best in bottomlands and other moist areas. Wildlife will come to visit this tree since birds and animals eat the seeds. In Maine, for instance, this tree of the swamps was cut, pounded, and peeled into thin, strong, bendable strips to form the state's field-worthy potato baskets. Alt Text: … Few trees, though, can match its aggressiveness in sending out a massive root system. The ash tree is also linked with the blending of the past, present, and future. Ash is also not resistant to insect attack. Learn More. Black ash wood is 10 percent lighter in weight, meaning it is weaker, more limber, etc. Few trees, though, can match its aggressiveness in sending out a massive root system. Black ash trees (Fraxinus nigra) are native to the northeast corner of the United States as well as Canada.They grow in wooded swamps and wetlands. Wood-Boring Beetles in Ash Trees. Depending on its location, the black ash will reach heights of 12 to 20 meters with a girth up to 50 centimeters. Oregon ash has a Janka rating of 1,160, and pumpkin ash … But if planted, they will grow elsewhere. The insects are responsible for the deaths of hundreds of millions of ash trees across the United States and Canada. Harold Minnesota has more Ash trees than any other state, with nearly one million acres of Black Ash, mostly in the central and northeastern part of the state, where lowland forest types are abundant. Woodworkers like the white ash because it can be bent into various shapes without jeopardizing its strength.The white ash will commonly grow between 70-80 feet tall and likes rich, moist, well drained soils. These beetles attack all native species of ash trees. Ash trees (Fraxinus spp. ), with their high, conical or oval canopies and relatively nonaggressive root systems are a good choice streetside or in large yards. Processing wood into fine weaving materials is a time consuming endeavor. The black ash alone supports wood ducks, wild turkey, cardinals, pine grosbeaks, cedar waxwings, and yellow-bellied sapsuckers, with habitat and food (such as the sap being of … Ash is a great species of lumber to work with. Go purchase The National Audubon Societys Field guide to Trees. This metallic wood-boring beetle attacks all of Ohio's native ash species, and has no known significant natural enemies in this country. BostonBull. A large, old growth tree could be worth a million dollars, but the last of these was probably cut down more than 50 years ago. Calculating the value of trees growing in a wood lot is fairly straightforward. Many mammalian species from meadow voles eating the seeds, white-tailed deer eating the foliage, to silver-haired bats nesting, will also make use of ash trees. Sustainability: This wood species is not listed in the CITES Appendices, but is on the IUCN Red List. Emerald Ash Borers are likely to kill 99 percent of the U.S. ash wood trees, says the U.S. Forest Service. The soft, ash-gray bark is fissured into scaly plates, which easily can be reduced to powder by rubbing. White ash and black ash both have gray, smooth bark when young, but diverge in appearance as they age. However, the most notable use is its selection as the choice material for making wooden baseball bats. The grain is almost always straight and regular, though sometimes curly or figured boards can be found. The tree. The wood of the White Ash Tree is used in the making of baseball bats. True ash trees are in the Fraxinus genus together with olive trees. The endgrain of the wood is pounded with a mallet—collapsing the weaker earlywood, and liberating the latewood to be peeled off in strips. The color is darker (browner) in black ash than in white ashes. Therefore, a high BTU wood is the best wood. Where I live, black ash is available and makes a very nice fire but birch is far and away the most popular firewood because it is easier to manage than ash. Ash produces fewer sparks than Black Locust, Hickory, and Mulberry Ash produces worse coals compared with all of the other firewoods in our top tier category (e.g. I’ve still not found any usable for Acoustic guitars. The Maine DACF Horticulture Program and Forest Health and Monitoring Division urge tree and shrub sellers to stop selling any Fraxinus species (white, green, black/brown ash) or Chionanthus (white fringe tree). The White ash tree is the largest of the ash tree family. Black Ash. The rip fence on my Powermatic 66 tablesaw didn’t glide as smoothly across the tabletop as I liked... read more. (See notes on the emerald ash borer in the comments section below.). The largest tree in North Dakota is 66 feet tall with a canopy spread of 34½ feet. Black Locust. For example, if it’s strained or succumbs to a pest, that can impact the appearance of the grain. The wood structure of black ash makes it a great choice for weaving, as it is pliable. Description: Black ash is a slender tree, and does not grow to be as tall as white ash. The insects are responsible for the deaths of hundreds of millions of ash trees across the United States and Canada. Black Ash Tree Black Ash (Fraxinus nigra. Ashes lack these conspicuous rays. The wood has been used to make cabinets, veneer, baskets, barrel hoops, and the seats of chairs. Density of Wood - density is the amount of space a volume or mass of firewood occupies. Ash trees (Fraxinus spp. Had a black ash in the front yard, and it was good too, but White Ash is the best. It is one of Wisqoq’s greatest threats. You are using an outdated browser that is no longer supported by Ontario.ca. Glues, stains, and finishes well. If you have firewood that is a lower MBTU rating than the ash firewood you've stocked, there is no harm in mixing the two. It’s generally darker than its counterpart – White Ash. Wood-Boring Beetles in Ash Trees. By pounding on the wood with a mallet, the weaker spring wood layer is crushed, allowing the tougher and darker summer wood layer to be peeled off in long strips. A fierce competitor, the tree sucks up water and nutrients at a rate that, over the long run, other trees can't match. Fluorescence: A Secret Weapon in Wood Identification, Bow Woods (from a mathematical perspective), Brazilian Rosewood, East Indian, and Other Rosewoods, Genuine Lignum Vitae and Argentine Lignum Vitae, BOOK: WOOD! Photo by Brian Lacey. I have my own mI’ll and just cut a fresh black ash tree if you want a specific size let me know I can get it. Types of Ash Trees. It has great shock resistance, and solid workability. Without regular insecticide treatments, most of the ash … Slightly more upright and often narrower in appearance than green ash. It’s not quite as strong or dense as the related White Ash (Fraxinus americana); this is most likely due to its slower growth rate, which causes a higher proportion of weaker earlywood sections. This is a northern tree, the most northern of the ash trees. https://www.dickert.ca The black ash has a lifespan of up to a century and does not tolerate shade. Hickory. Scrollsaw, Carving, and Decorative Projects, Hardness ratings help you choose the right species, How To Make A Translucent Transom with Veneer, Rip Fence Glides Along Smoothly on Wheels. See our image examples and identification guide. You will need to compare several plant characteristics, including the leaves, branches and seeds, to confidently identify an Ash tree. White ash and black ash both have gray, smooth bark when young, but diverge in appearance as they age. Black Walnut 20.0; Oregon Ash 20.0; Red or White Alder 14.8; and American Aspen 13.7; Ash firewood ranks very well! The wood ashes of this tree are rich in potash, which is utilised as a soil fertilizer. The white ash, also known at the American Biltmore or cane ash, is considered to be the best among the ash species. It has compound leaves with pointed leaflets that turn yellow in the fall. (This lack of density is favored for use in electric guitar bodies, and the term “Swamp Ash” is used loosely to describe pieces of ash that have low densities and good acoustic properties.). Pricing/Availability: Ash is among the least expensive utility hardwoods available domestically; it should compare similarly to oak in terms of price. The wood is generally straight-grained with a coarse uniform texture. In my opinion, it is the best smoking wood I have ever used. Adapted to poorly drained and humid soils, it naturally grows in peat-bogs, along streams and on alternately flooded lands. Ash Tree Symbolism. In fact, the tree's great demand for water eventually leaves it high and dry. Joined Mar 19, 2005 Messages 2,546 Location North Shore MA. Endgrain: Ring-porous; large earlywood pores 2-4 rows wide, small latewood pores solitary and radial multiples; tyloses common; parenchyma banded (marginal), parenchyma around latewood pores less common in Black Ash, but may be vasicentric, winged and confluent; narrow rays, spacing normal. Ash is divided into two groups -- white and black. Blue Ash. So the black ash has few close neighbors. Native to the northern wetlands, the black ash shares its soggy habitat with other water-loving trees, such as tamarack and black spruce. The foliage of ash trees is easily identifiable, with green ash (top) and black ash (bottom) is about the same (photo courtesy of Keith Kanoti, Maine Forest Service, Bugwood.org) Personally, I find ash to be a wonderful lumber to work with. The killer beetle has made a home in 26 states, two Canadian Providences and is continuing to spread. Maine DACF suggests that homeowners not plant these species because EAB will attack trees as small as one inch in diameter. The black ash has a lifespan of up to a century and does not tolerate shade. Blue ash has a Janka rating of 2,030. Rot Resistance: Heartwood is rated as perishable, or only slightly durable in regard to decay. Types of Ash Wood 1. The Fraxinum genus of plants includes many ash trees, like these 13 species. relatively easy to split and can be separated into thin strips. Protect wood from absorbing water, either from rain or from the ground. To this point, it has been an economical wood that was always readily available. BostonBull Addicted to ArboristSite. Black Ash seeds in the winter. So the black ash has few close neighbors. he beetles’ larvae bore into a tree and feed on the inner bark, eventually killing the entire tree. Common Uses: Flooring, millwork, boxes/crates, baseball bats, and other turned objects such as tool handles. The tree. The closer ring spacing can also be used to distinguish Black Ash from White Ash. Black Ash Scientific Name: Fraxinus nigra. The main types of ash wood you will come across in building, construction and for general human use is wood from the white ash (Fraxinus americana) and the black ash (Fraxinus nigra). Northwoods basketmakers know black ash (Fraxinus nigra) well. Black Ash trees like to grow in wet areas such as swamps and marshes. The denser the wood, the less space it's given mass takes up and the greater a particular volume of firewood weighs. A few other trees (like mountain ash and prickly ash) look similar to ash. Emerald ash borer has threatened many of them. Other woods are stronger, but it has the best strength to weight ratio, and since most players do not want a bat greater than 32 oz. Its also tied to many legends. Are Rosewoods (and Bubinga) really banned by CITES? The name ash comes from the word spear, which could be a reference to its spear-shaped leaves or the fact that ancient peoples used the tree to make weaponry. It favors the wet soils of cold swamps, peat bogs, and stream bottoms that periodically are flooded. This is a useful property for basket makers. Black ash (Fraxinus nigra), a slow-growing tree of northern swampy woodlands, is the only ash native to Newfoundland. The Black Ash is a tree of wet places. Swamps occupied for decades by black ash become shallower, creating fertile conditions for successor trees like basswood, elm, and red maple that can't stand getting their "feet" wet. Depending on its location, the black ash will reach heights of 12 to 20 meters with a girth up to 50 centimeters. It grows in much of southeastern Canada, the Great Lakes Region, and the northeastern-most states. Great info with excellent bark and leaf pictures for identification. Unlike white ash, it has no stem connecting the leaflet to the main stem. Ash Tree Trivia. All Rights Reserved. Norse mythology refers to it as The World Tree and claims the first man came from ash and burning ash as a Yule log assures a prosperous year ahead. These beetles attack all native species of ash trees. Black Ash is one of a handful of species in the Fraxinus genus that are used as commercial lumber. Black ash trees (Fraxinus nigra) are native to the northeast corner of the United States as well as Canada.They grow in wooded swamps and wetlands. Black ash is characterized by a light to medium brown color. Black Locust. African Black Ebony is the most valuable wood in the world. The Green Ash is widely planted as a street tree in the United States. Black ash is a commercially sold wood and even though it is not as good as the white ashes, it is excellent for cabinets, furniture, etc. Ash wood almost always has a straight grain, though the conditions the tree grows in will occasionally create unique patterns. This is referred to as “figured wood.” For this reason, you’ll sometimes see curly or birdseye grain, among others. WORKING PROPERTIES Ash machines well, is good in nailing, screwing and … According to black ash tree information, the trees grow slowly and develop into tall, slender trees with attractive feather-compound leaves. Allergies/Toxicity: Ash in the Fraxinus genus has been reported to cause skin irritation, and a decrease in lung function. If grow… The specific gravity of ash woods ranges from 0.60 for white ash to 0.49 for black ash. The process to season ash takes between six and 18 months. The ash tree symbolizes the World Tree―a tree that joined the three worlds: the underworld, the middle earth, and the spiritual realm. Where can I get some quartered Black Ash? They provide generous amount of shade and canopies that make them ideal specimen trees that are pleasing to the eyes. Oregon ash has a Janka rating of 1,160, and pumpkin ash rates 990. Flavor wise it is somewhere between oak and hickory. Image Description: bark from fraxinus quadrangulata. Black ash (Fraxinus nigra), a slow-growing tree of northern swampy woodlands, is the only ash native to Newfoundland. And in its springtime rush to grow, the tree puts on a layer of large-pored earlywood. Kids Corner. You can identify a Black Ash by looking at the leaves, bark and overall shape of the tree. The ash tree stands for strength, which it gets from its strong roots. See the articles Wood Allergies and Toxicity and Wood Dust Safety for more information. The beetles’ larvae bore into a tree and feed on the inner bark, eventually killing the entire tree. Method 1 of 2: Comparing Branches 1. Ash Trees grow fast and straight. The 40 to 70 species of ash trees are native to Central and North America. Wood brown, soft, heavy, tough, splitting into annual layers along the porous spring wood. Green Ash and Black Ash trees are preferentially attacked by the insects, followed by White Ash and Blue Ash. This is essential for basket making and often referred to as the basket maker’s tree. The wood of Black Ash is relatively soft and flexible. A tutorial of how to tell the America's 3 most common Eastern Ash trees apart. Jonathan W. Wright and H. Michael Rauscher. Black Ash is a small to medium size tree usually growing to 65 feet in height with a trunk diameter of 1 to 2 feet. * Burns completely, and leaves very little ash * Less smoke emitted so chimneys are cleaner. I am a guitar builder and have been all over the web. The safest and surest means by which the moisture evaporates is simply to let the wood sit and let nature carry on. This rapidly growing tree is popular for making baseball bats and tool handles do to its strength and flexibility. Many aspects of this tree are unknown because it has never been commercially important. Black Ash is the tree of choice for pounding of traditional Native American basketry. It can be easy to mistake an Ash tree for Black Walnut, Maple, Boxelder, Hickory or Dogwood trees. Black Ash is unique among all trees in North America in that it does not have fibers connecting the growth rings to each other. (This is a monthly update, and your email will be kept private.). Other common names, swamp ash, basket ash, brown ash, hoop ash, and water ash, indicate some of its characteristics and uses. Grain/Texture: Has a medium to coarse texture similar to oak. Which Ash Tree Do I Have? The wood from the hickory family of trees, which includes pecan trees, is also very dense and prized for use as firewood, being of similar quality to oak. The black ash alone supports wood ducks, wild turkey, cardinals, pine grosbeaks, cedar waxwings, and yellow-bellied sapsuckers, with habitat and food (such as the sap being of interest to the sapsucker) among others. These points have more to do with the efficiency of the combustion appliance than with the wood. Even its light weight (31 lbs/ft 3 average) closely matches the density of Black Ash (34 lbs/ft 3 average). Learn More. )-Slender, upright tree with narrow head, 50 to 90 feet high; twigs stout. In just 10 years, it has become the most destructive forest pest ever seen in North America. It is relatively easy to split and can be separated into thin strips. How to identify a Black Ash tree? Perhaps the most common ash look-alike is Sassafras (Sassafras albidum). For the same reason, it is used for tool handles, hockey sticks, and canoe paddles. Examine the texture of the tree's trunk. Minnesota is a good source if you look on craigslist. It burns clean with no smoke and it throws few sparks. Calculating The Value Of A Woodlot Calculating the value of trees growing in a wood lot is fairly straightforward. They are not true ash trees, however, and fall in a different genus. African Black Ebony is the most valuable wood in the world. The sapwood has the tendency to be very wide and is usually beige to light brown in color. The closer ring spacing can also be used to distinguish Black Ash from White Ash. ), although oaks have much wider rays, which are visible on all wood surfaces—even on flatsawn surfaces, where they appear as short, thin brown lines between the growth rings. Ash is known for its staining potential and ability to mimic oak. © 2020 Meredith Corporation. When stained, ash can look very similar to oak (Quercus spp. Black Ash is one of a handful of species in the Fraxinus genus that are used as commercial lumber. Other common names, swamp ash, basket ash, brown ash, hoop ash, and water ash, indicate some of its characteristics and uses. In Canada, it can be found from Newfoundland west to Manitoba. Black Ash is the tree of choice for pounding of traditional Native American basketry. The Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis), is a destructive exotic pest from Asia that is killing many of our Ohio Ash trees. It is listed as critically endangered due to a projected population reduction of over 80% in the next three generations, caused by effects of introduced taxa. It seldom reaches over 50 feet (16 m) or a diameter of 1 foot (30 cm). Black Ash can be distinguished from other ash The wood has been used to make cabinets, veneer, baskets, barrel hoops, and the seats of chairs. It machines well, accepts stain and dye really well (if that is important to you) and is always available. Ash Trees are native to the North American forest and have long been used to make furniture and flooring. Avoid using wet wood and always use the dead tree if possible. Oleaceae -- Olive family. Buy Ash Trees to bring an excellent source of shade and a beautiful golden fall color to your yard. Wood Characteristics Influencing Quality Heating and Ignition . For Eric’s baskets, it all starts with the Black Ash tree. The lowest Janka rating for an ash wood is black ash at 850. Ash look-alikes. The specific gravity of ash woods ranges from 0.60 for white ash to 0.49 for black ash. Black Ash tends to be a bit darker in color than White Ash (Fraxinus americana). The Emerald Ash Borer, an invasive species from Asia, has rapidly expanded throughout Ontario and Quebec. The strips are subsequently collected and woven into baskets. Color/Appearance: The heartwood is a light to medium brown color. This tree can grow well in cold and wet locations. Black ash (Fraxinus nigra) California ash (Fraxinus dipetala) Blue ash (Fraxinus quadrangulata) These types of ash trees tolerate urban pollution and their cultivars are often seen as street trees. Although never a cherished target of lumbermen because of its comparatively small size, the black ash rates as unique because its dark-brown heartwood occupies nearly the entire girth of its trunk, leaving little room for lighter-colored sapwood. White ash is rated at 1,320 and green ash at 1,200. It has a medium to coarse texture similar to oak but is almost always straight and regular. Portaging canoeists, hunters, and trappers traditionally hunkered under the load of reliable packbaskets made of "basket" ash. This exotic insect girdles and kills the tree. For more related content, subscribe to our newsletter! Many offer nice autumn displays as the leaves turn yellow or purple. The Black Ash is a tree of wet places. The degree and availability of light-colored sapwood, and other properties, will vary according to the growing regions. Pull down a branch from the tree so that you can view it more easily. Green and black ash, sweet gum, silver, and bigleaf maple, red cedar, pineapple, red is equal to 103 liters of liquid fuel ($222) What are the best trees for firewood? The energy content in BTU measures the heat that a certain amount of wood contains. And in its springtime rush to grow, the tree puts on a layer of large-pored earlywood. Green Ash and Black Ash trees are preferentially attacked by the insects, followed by White Ash and Blue Ash. The wood from these oak trees is prized for its strength and density, and that density makes it one of the best at producing heat. The Black Ash has a tall trunk with a fairly uniform diameter up to the branches. The 40 to 70 species of ash trees are native to Central and North America. Copyright © 2008-2020 Eric Meier | All Rights Reserved. When viewed from the face grain, the wood bears a strong resemblance to Black Ash, closely matching its color and grain pattern. Oak, Hickory, Black Locust, etc.) They can grow into tall shade trees. They are all oval shaped and taper to a slender tip. Indigenous peoples of the Northeastern Woodlandsalso make bark baskets from black ash, traditionally used for be… It is a slender tree—one of the slenderest trees found in North American forests—with a … Trees and Shrubs Ashes Hickories Walnuts: Range map for Black Ash (Fraxinus nigra) PLEASE NOTE: A coloured Province or State means this species occurs somewhere in that Province/State. Responds well to steam bending. Distribution: Northeastern United States and Eastern Canada, Tree Size: 50-65 ft (15-20 m) tall, 1-2 ft (.3-.6 m) trunk diameter, Average Dried Weight: 34 lbs/ft3 (545 kg/m3), Specific Gravity (Basic, 12% MC): .45, .55, Modulus of Rupture: 12,600 lbf/in2 (86.9 MPa), Elastic Modulus: 1,600,000 lbf/in2 (11.00 GPa), Crushing Strength: 5,970 lbf/in2 (41.2 MPa), Shrinkage: Radial: 5.0%, Tangential: 7.8%, Volumetric: 15.2%, T/R Ratio: 1.6. Has a higher moisture requirement than green ash. The insects are responsible for the deaths of hundreds of millions of ash trees across the United States and Canada. Ash Tree Trivia. It’s not quite as strong or dense as the related White Ash (Fraxinus americana); this is most likely due to its slower growth rate, which causes a higher proportion of weaker earlywood sections. According to black ash tree information, the trees grow slowly and develop into tall, slender trees with attractive feather-compound leaves. T he beetles’ larvae bore into a tree and feed on the inner bark, eventually killing the entire tree. Although never a cherished target of lumbermen because of its comparatively small size, the black ash rates as unique because its dark-brown heartwood occupies nearly the entire girth of its trunk, leaving little room for lighter-colored sapwood. There are 18 types of ash trees in this country, and ash is a common component of many forests. Ash Wood: Black, White, and Everything in Between. Ash is a great craft wood, but best known as the wood of choice for baseball bats. Ash trees belong to the Fraxinus species and grow commonly in cities and forests. What are the current threats? Lacking natural predators, uncontrolled populations of this invasive species spread very rapidly throughout North America, devastating local populations of ash trees. Sep 30, 2007. Adapted to poorly drained and humid soils, it naturally grows in peat … Sapwood can be very wide, and tends to be a beige or light brown; not always clearly or sharply demarcated from heartwood. this becomes significant. The ash tree is a beautiful, strong tree with more than 60 species found mostly in parts of Europe, Asia, and North America. A large, old growth tree could be worth a million dollars, but the last of these was probably cut down more than 50 years ago. Identifying and Using Hundreds of Woods Worldwide, POSTER: Worldwide Woods: Ranked by Hardness. Black ash is a medium-size tree with limited ornamental value but as a native tree it has a wide-ranging wildlife value, and it’s very adaptable to wet locations and moist sites. The trees grow in cool and warm climates, on moist, well drained soil, and in areas that provide enough direct sunlight. Sep 30, 2007 #7 Easiest way to tell is by the leaves, twigs, and bud structure. White ash is rated at 1,320 and green ash at 1,200. Danger in the Forest The Emerald Ash borer as invaded Eastern ash trees, making wood scarcer in those areas and quickly spreading to other parts of North America. Calculating The Value Of A Woodlot. Steps. Marsh. A fierce competitor, the tree sucks up water and nutrients at a rate that, over the long run, other trees can't match. Although most of them are deciduous, some of them are evergreen. It can be easy to mistake an Ash tree for Black Walnut, Maple, Boxelder, Hickory or Dogwood trees. Native to the northern wetlands, the black ash shares its soggy habitat with other water-loving trees, such as tamarack and black spruce. Fraxinus nigra. Ash Tree Disease: Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) The emerald ash borer is a metallic green wood boring beetle which is about 1 to 1.5 cm in length. I need at least 34″ by 8.5″ and 5/4. Odor: Gives off a distinct, moderately unpleasant smell when being worked. Comments: The emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis), believed to have been inadvertently introduced from Asia sometime in the 1990s, was first detected in Michigan in 2002. The wood of the White Ash Tree is used in the making of baseball bats. Other Uses. Bark close textured, dark grey, with interlacing furrows; twigs smooth, grey, with pale lenticels. The best-known firewoods are white and red oak trees. It is a hardy tree resistant to many diseases, but has been recently attacked by the Emerald Ash Bore… The strength of the ash is excellent, although it has flexibility. Black Ash is commonly used in basket weaving. FYI: I receive a commission on sales generated through links to Amazon, eBay, etc.